My Mute Bride

Not long after Victor left, Rachel heard the doorbell ring.

Originally thinking he left something behind, she opened the door, only to see a courier.

“Ms. Rachel Hudson?”

Upon hearing that, Rachel nodded.

“There are two intracity express parcels for you. Please sign here.”

Startled, she signed for the parcels, thereafter receiving a cake and a paper bag.

Right now on the table, there was still half an uneaten cake that Victor had rushed out to buy at noon upon finding out it was her birthday.

So, who bought the cake that the courier delivered?

Setting it aside on the table for now, she pulled a rectangular suede box out of the paper bag.

With a click, she opened it and discovered a silver-colored necklace in the box that glimmered underneath the light

The pendant was in the simple design of a small sun with a hollow center.

Putting down the box, she found a card on top of the cake box that simply read ‘Happy Birthday’ without any signature.

Dumbfounded, she stared at the items until her phone started vibrating.

It was a text message from Julian reading, ‘Did you receive what I sent?’

Immediately, she understood. ‘I did. I was wondering who would remember my birthday.’

‘Don’t forget that you’re a patient of mine. It’s not strange that I would remember your birthday.’

‘Thank you.

‘You’re welcome. Are you free? I just finished work; come down for a walk with me!

Looking at the time, she agreed, ‘Okay.’

At this hour after dinner, the community was lively. All of the houses were lit up, and the sound of children laughing could be heard around the neighborhood as they ran around playing.

and opened it. Before she could even offer some to anyone, a group

cake is

‘wait’ motion with her hand, she lifted a knife and a paper plate, preparing to cut into the cake for

on, Rae.” Julian stopped her and pulled some candles out of a box to the side. “Today is Miss Rachel’s birthday. Before she treats you all to some cake,

of the group, which happened to be a little

sing the ‘Happy Birthday’

close her eyes and

blow out

that there was no

the children sing ‘Happy Birthday’ in unison. The delicate chorus of young voices would

“Make a wish.”

There’s no need.

it in your heart and not out loud, or the wish won’t

girl who wasn’t even at table height yet looking up at her with

her hands and made a wish. After that, she blew out the candles and began to give

thank you!” their parents instructed, standing

on each other’s faces. Just like that, the strangers in the community suddenly seemed

finally smiled for the first time

with me.” Walking her back to her apartment building, Julian continued, “The most important thing right now is to take care of your body and your mood. You don’t need to worry about anything

anyway, so I might as well pretend it never existed for now. At that

topic and told her, “Go on upstairs, then. It’s been getting colder lately,

turned and headed toward the

inside her apartment and about

door was propped open by a

his darkened face made all the more

on business?

he slid sideways into the house and shut the door before surveying the

you’ve been getting along fine

two steps back. Why are

pulled off his necktie and threw it onto the

sneered, “I suppose you wouldn’t want me to ruin your blissful

her, forcing her back inch

had no idea what

pulled, she staggered after him and